Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) popularized the HDMI streaming stick form factor with the launch of Chromecast last summer. Numerous manufacturers, including LG Electronics Inc. (London: LGLD; Korea: 6657.KS) and Roku Inc. , have gone on to develop their own versions. The difference with Alticast is that it focuses specifically on the software for these HDMI adapters and is combining the cable-ready Reference Design Kit (RDK) platform with its own HTML5 application framework and support for Android apps.

Alticast has been testing a version of its streaming software for many months. The new release includes an RDK-based application storefront that operators can customize with their own branding and curated collection of HTML5 apps. The company says the latest software includes workflow tools for "application upload, versioning, and sales monitoring."

At the Consumer Electronics Show last month, Alticast showed how its streaming stick solution, working in tandem with a home media gateway, could deliver cable services side by side with web-based apps. In that demo, Alticast CTO John Carlucci presented several MSO-developed program guides running on an HDMI adapter, including one from Cox Communications Inc. (Cox has since confirmed that it's worked with Alticast on the proof of concept, but clarified that the testing process is still in the very early stages.) There were also links to apps from other popular consumer websites, including Twitter Inc. , Facebook , YouTube Inc. , and Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX). (See Alticast Primps for Vegas Spotlight.)

The cable industry has shown strong interest in thin clients like the HDMI streaming stick. Nick Thexton, CTO of Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)'s service provider video infrastructure group, said last month that he is a fan of the form factor, and that he is starting to see a similar response from customers. Arris Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRS) senior vice president and general manager Kevin Keefe talked last fall about experimenting with an HDMI adapter product for the cable market. (See Cisco Exec: Thinner Pay-TV STBs Coming and Arris RDK Boxes Coming Soon.)

Given the growing popularity of RDK and HDMI streaming sticks, it's a good bet that we'll see more of the two platforms married together in 2014. Alticast will get the party started in Denver next week.

The Feb. 11 users conference, by the way, will be the second staged by the cable industry to spur the development and deployment of RDK, a standardized, pre-integrated software bundle designed to power IP and hybrid IP/QAM set-top boxes and media gateways. The private gathering is designed for the roughly 120 vendors, cable operators, chipmakers, and other firms that have licensed the RDK software bundle so far.

Two other licenses planning to demonstrate products next week are Espial Group Inc. and Silicon Software & Systems Ltd. (S3) . Espial will showcase "a high-performance HTML5 user experience" on multiple RDK boxes. S3 Group will highlight its testing and integration products and services for pay TV providers. In addition, Philip Brennan, vice president of technology for S3, will lead a panel discussion on how RDK code management works.

Hmm... The RDK streaming sticks sound promising but I remain skeptical until I can test one for myself. I bought the Chromecast device because it was cheap and there was promise of a future App Store. It's still a beta product (and buggy). I tested a different device called the SmartStick that used small HDMI form factor but it was terrible. HTML5 apps haven't quite lived up to the hype. Perhaps their day is still to come.

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Understanding the full experience of women in technology requires starting at the collegiate level (or sooner) and studying the technologies women are involved with, company cultures they're part of and personal experiences of individuals.

During this WiC radio show, we will talk with Nicole Engelbert, the director of Research & Analysis for Ovum Technology and a 23-year telecom industry veteran, about her experiences and perspectives on women in tech. Engelbert covers infrastructure, applications and industries for Ovum, but she is also involved in the research firm's higher education team and has helped colleges and universities globally leverage technology as a strategy for improving recruitment, retention and graduation performance.

She will share her unique insight into the collegiate level, where women pursuing engineering and STEM-related degrees is dwindling. Engelbert will also reveal new, original Ovum research on the topics of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, security and augmented reality, as well as discuss what each of those technologies might mean for women in our field. As always, we'll also leave plenty of time to answer all your questions live on the air and chat board.